Hello. I'm Becki, a newbie, and I have just a couple of questions.

My rheumetologist (sp?) gave me 2 pamphlets to read about Humira, and Remicade. He said these kind of drugs could stop the progression of the AS, and explained how they both work. I understood what he was telling me, but I just wonder if it is worth the cost. I have Blue Cross insurance, but have been unable to get an actual person on the phone to find out what our portion of the cost would be.
Does either of them work like the pamphlets say? I'm mostly concerned about stopping the progession (I am fusing already in my sac joints, and have it in my ribs and neck too...not to mention my heels, right knee and right elbow).
I can live with the pain I have now, but I really would love to not have it get any worse.
My rheumy does not prescribe narcotic pain meds, so I'm getting by on ibuprofen, and the few darvocet I have left from a tooth extraction. Those will be gone soon.
Anyway, I am so new to this (understanding the disease, not pain) that I just would like to know what is the "normal" course of treatment, if there even is one?
I'm feeling a bit lost and overwhelmed by this diagnosis, and my doc seems pretty hurried when I have an appointment.

I do have another appointment with him next Tuesday to talk about a physical therapist teaching me the exercises I need to be doing. He drew blood on Monday to see my inflammation (sp?) level.

Thanks in advance to any of you who can help me out a bit. I hate feeling so, well, needy at this point, but after so many tests just to figure out what my problem was/is, I am pretty confused at it all. For a long time, they thought it was lupus till they did a scan of my pelvis.
I just keep thinking that this should have been found a long time ago....makes me a bit angry, if you know what I mean.

Thanks again, and tender hugs,
Bex